‘I think it’s going to be a good year’

Yohan Blake will hope to bite into a gold medal at the London Olympic Games [GALLO/GETTY]

While the media’s attention is on the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, Jamaican compatriot Yohan Blake is training hard to steal the Olympic 100m title from his training partner later this year. 

The reigning world 100m champion said on Tuesday he was focusing on getting a faster start to give him the winning edge over his biggest rival. 

“One thing I’m trying to work on is my start and the technical details. Basically I’ve been working on that and trying to get off to a better start for the first 30 metres,” said 22-year old Blake from his Jamaican base.

“I want to work on the first 30 metres and get my start right… The rest of my race is wonderful but that I need to work on for the Olympics. All of that is going to come into play for the Olympics.”

Blake became the youngest 100m world champion last year at Daegu but his victory in the final lost some of its lustre after Bolt false started out of the race.

“His false start was a big shocker,” Blake said.

“It did not change anything really. I was really ready. (Winning the world title) has meant a lot to me. It has opened a lot of doors.”

That included a Tuesday morning meeting with England’s Prince Harry.

“He’s a funny guy,” Blake said.

“He was a good person to talk too. It meant a lot to meet him.”

Familiar faces

Blake figures the Jamaican Olympic trials 100m final in June will be a strong preparation for the Olympic sprint showdown.

“A lot of the guys are running really fast. A lot of them are going to be in the Olympics 100m final,” Blake said.

“Asafa Powell, me, Usain Bolt, I think it’s going to be a tough one in June.

“Last year I was the one doing the chasing. You win and all these guys want a piece of you the next time. Basically it’s everybody.”

Training with Jamaican’s finest runners has removed some of the nervousness and awe from sharing a starting line with them, Blake said.

Blake benefits from having training partners such as world’s quickest man Usain Bolt (pictured) [GETTY]

“I run with these guys all the time,” Blake said.

That includes Bolt, who looks to defend his 100 and 200 Olympic gold medals from Beijing.

“Usain Bolt pushed me a lot in training,” Blake said.

“That has helped me run even faster to keep up with his speed. That helped me a lot to train for the Olympics.”

Bolt even tagged Blake with a nickname, the Beast.

“I work twice as hard as anybody else. That’s why they call me the Beast,” Blake said.

“When I get Christmas break I still train. Coach Mills has to call me and tell me I’m on a break and to stop working. When you guys are sleeping I’m out there working.”

Blake knows his world title has raised expectations but said he can handle that.

“I’m carrying a lot of weight on my shoulders,” he said.

“I know what’s on my shoulders to carry. I think it’s going to be a good year I’m going to have this year.”